| | Manuscript Collection | Save | | 1 | Title: | Joseph and Feiss Company Records, Series II
| | | | Creator: | Joseph and Feiss Company | | | | Dates: | 1858-1988 | | | | Abstract: | The Joseph and Feiss Company was founded in 1841 as Koch and Loeb, a general store in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The store moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1845, and when Samuel Loeb left shortly after the move, Kaufman Koch expanded the enterprise to three locations. Other partners joined the company, including Jacob Goldsmith and Julius Feiss in 1865 and Moritz Joseph in 1873. As Goldsmith, Joseph, Feiss & Company, an internal factory was opened in 1897 to begin the production of ready-made men's clothing under the Clothcraft label. After changing its name to the Joseph and Feiss Company in 1907, the company became fully incorporated as The Joseph and Feiss Company in 1920 when it moved into its new factory on W. 53rd Street in Cleveland. The company had originally balanced scientific management with benevolent corporate paternalism in order to keep workers happy as well as healthy. In 1934, the company was unionized by the Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union of America and these paternalistic programs were ended. During World War II, Joseph and Feiss became an important manufacturer of uniforms for the United States army and navy. After the war, the company continued to expand its line of products, purchasing Samuel Spitz Company and its Cricketeer label in 1957 and Windbreaker-Danville in 1962. Joseph and Feiss also owned and operated several subsidiaries, including the Naval Uniform Service, Inc. In 1966, Joseph and Feiss merged with Phillips Van-Heusen Corporation and continued to operate under its own name. In 1989, it was acquired by the German clothing firm Hugo Boss. The Cricketeer label was discontinued in 1995 and in 1997 its Cleveland operations were moved to the Tiedeman Road facility in Brooklyn, Ohio. In 2010, the planned closure of that plant was averted after union negotiations. The plant continues to produce 150,000 suits a year. The collection consists of minutes, correspondence, news clippings, inventories, audit reports, tax records, contracts, legal deeds, blueprints, ledger books, personnel records, and booklets. | | | | Call #: | MS 5054 | | | | Extent: | 17.20 linear feet (11 containers and 15 oversize volumes) | | | | Subjects: | Joseph and Feiss Company (Cleveland, Ohio) | Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. | United States. Army -- Uniforms. | United States. Navy -- Uniforms. | Clothing trade -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Clothing factories -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Clothing workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Labor unions -- Clothing workers -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Men's clothing industry -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Men's clothing industry -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Marketing. | Fashion design -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Industrial relations -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | World War, 1939-1945 -- War work -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Factories -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Design and construction.
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| Manuscript Collection | Save | | 2 | Title: | Curtis Industries, Inc. Records
| | | | Creator: | Curtis Industries, Inc. | | | | Dates: | 1944-1975 | | | | Abstract: | Curtis Industries, Inc. was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1932 by William Abrams and two of his sons, Morris and Howard, as Clipper Key and Lock Co. The company initially sold several brands of key cutting machines throughout the Cleveland area and the Midwest. In 1934, the Abrams worked together with inventor William Curtis to invent a new key cutting machine that they could manufacture and distribute themselves. The machine was patented, and the company changed its name to Curtis Key Co. The company's focus was on key cutting machines and key blanks, which they both manufactured and sold. However, during World War II, the company concentrated solely on defense work and ceased to manufacture of keys and key machines. Following the war, the company changed its name to Curtis Industries, Inc. and resumed its work on key machines and key blanks. The company also began manufacturing and selling automotive and farm equipment replacement parts. In 1961, Curtis Industries built a large facility in Eastlake, Ohio. Previously, Curtis had operated sites on Carnegie Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and East 222nd Street in Cleveland. The new building in Eastlake consolidated all of Curtis's branches and various operations. The new site was considered state-of-the-art and garnered much publicity. In 1961, the Cleveland Chapter of the American Materials Handling Society recognized Curtis with is award for the best materials handling system in Northeast Ohio. Morris Abrams was president of the company, with Howard Abrams serving as vice president and chairman of the board. Following Morris's death in 1963, Howard was named president. Morris's heirs sold their portion of Curtis stock to the Ohio Forge and Machine Corporation, who then made a bid to buy all of Curtis's stock. This resulted in a months-long feud between Howard Abrams and his supporters and Ohio Forge and their supporters, some of whom were on the board at Curtis. Eventually, Howard agreed to sell his controlling shares of Curtis stock. Curtis Industries officially became a part of Ohio Forge and Machine Corp. in 1964. Curtis became known as the Curtis Noll Corporation, under the new president Sanford B. Noll. Howard Abrams was retained in a consulting capacity for five years. The collection consists of advertisements, press releases, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, correspondence, blueprints, and product sheets. | | | | Call #: | MS 5120 | | | | Extent: | 0.81 linear feet (2 containers and 1 oversize folder) | | | | Subjects: | Curtis Industries, Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio) | Manufacturing industries -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Manufacturing industries -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Locks and keys -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Locks and keys -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Factories -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Factories -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Automobile supplies industry -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Automobile supplies industry -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Automobiles -- Parts -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Automobiles -- Parts -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Farm equipment -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Farm equipment -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | Jewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jewish businesspeople -- Ohio -- Eastlake. | World War, 1939-1945 -- War work -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
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